Wednesday, May 30, 2007

What Are Alms?

"Alms" are not some kind of tree, but something you should knowabout -- and do.

The Greek word translated alms in the New Testament originallymeant mercy or kindness, then came to represent the kind deedscaused by mercy and kindness. So it came to mean charitablegiving to the poor -- or giving motivated by love.

Many times this word is translated as "charitable deed."

LUKE 12:33 NKJ33 "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves moneybags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesnot fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Jesus often spoke of giving alms. But He made it clear that ourmotives are important.

MATTHEW 6:2-4 NRSV2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet beforeyou, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, theyhave received their reward.3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know whatyour right hand is doing,4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father whosees in secret will reward you.

The Bible tells of Cornelius, "a devout man and one who fearedGod with all his household, who gave alms generously to thepeople, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2), who had an angeldeliver this message:

ACTS 10:4 NKJ4 . . . he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have comeup for a memorial before God.

God was impressed with this Roman soldier's giving to meet theneeds of the poor.

Alms are not offerings to God, or His ministers. Alms arecharitable deeds -- gifts to the poor and needy. Helping peoplewho are in trouble.

ROMANS 10:l7 New Life17 So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And theGood News comes by someone preaching it.

Correct teaching on a subject produces faith in your heart.

But it is not enough just to hear teaching on a subject. Tokeep your faith strong you must feed on scriptures pertainingto that subject, by reading, speaking, and thinking about thosescriptures.

And you must exercise your faith for it to grow strong. Thatis: act on what you learn from Scripture.

Your faith can be strong in one area while being weak inanother. For example, most Christians have strong faithconcerning the new birth, but weak faith concerning healing,because they have never heard much teaching on the subject ofhealing.

It is true, as Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, that we need everyword that God has spoken -- not just some of them.

So, if you want your faith to grow in any area, listen toanointed teaching on that subject, then continue to read,speak, meditate, and act on those scriptures.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Why Read The Bible?

"I'm a busy person. I have a lot to do. Why should I spend mytime reading the Bible? I don't have time to do all I need todo as it is."

"I already believe in Jesus Christ, that He's the Son of Godand my Savior. I've already heard the Gospel."

"Why should I read the Bible?"

Read the following Scriptures. Then, if you still wonder whyyou should read the Bible, you need help.

JOHN 8:31-32 RSV31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If youcontinue in my word, you are truly my disciples,32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make youfree."

JOHN 14:23-24 Rieu23 Jesus replied: 'If anyone loves me he will cherish my word;my Father will love him and we will come to him and make himour abode.24 He that does not love me neglects my words. Yet the word youhear is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.

ACTS 20:32 NKJ32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word ofHis grace, which is able to build you up and give you aninheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Should Poor People Give?

ACTS 20:35 NIV35 . . . the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed togive than to receive.'"

Giving benefits the giver. The poorer you are the more you havea need to give.

Those who don't understand giving as planting seeds usuallythink it's wrong for a poor person to give to God. But givingis planting seed for a harvest.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NKJ6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reapsparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reapbountifully.7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, notgrudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, thatyou, always having all sufficiency in all things, have anabundance for every good work.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, presseddown, shaken together, and running over will be put into yourbosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will bemeasured back to you."

By giving, seed is planted for a larger harvest of blessing.Nobody needs that more than a poor person.

Jesus commended a poor widow for giving all she had.

LUKE 21:1-4 NKJ1 Then He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts intothe treasury,2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has putin more than all;4 "for all these out of their abundance have put in offeringsfor God, but she out of her poverty has put in all thelivelihood that she had."

Thursday, May 24, 2007

God Communicates

ACTS 2:28 KJV28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt makeme full of joy with thy countenance.

Of course, God can communicate in any way He chooses, but it isvery rare for Him to speak so that our ears hear a voice.However, God communicates all the time.

God normally communicates by thoughts which are whole ideas,not just individual words.

Sometimes God may communicate through individual words(especially if they are a quote from the Bible). But usually itis much faster than that and comes as a complete thought, notjust one word at a time.

God lives inside the believer in Jesus Christ. As a believer,you are joined with Jesus in your spirit.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:17 NKJ17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

So when you are having a conversation with God, it will usuallyseem like you are having an inward conversation with yourself.Don't expect it to be coming from "outside of you."

The thought may also come through another person. God lives inother believers, not just in you. It may have been recordedpreviously, either in written, spoken, or pictorial form.

It is not unusual for God to communicate with someone throughanother person without them even realizing they have beeninvolved in a message from God.

God can communicate through a sermon. But that does not meanevery sermon, or every idea it may contain, is from God -- nomatter who preaches it.

Of course, every thought you have is NOT from God. Somethoughts originate with the devil. Some thoughts are just yourflesh trying to control you. Some thoughts are the ideas ofother people you have picked up.

So you have to learn to discern which thoughts are from God andwhich ones are not.

There are two criteria by which we can determine whether athought is from God. The first is a knowledge of the writtenWord of God, the Bible.

God never changes. What He has said in the past is still whatHe would say today. Truth must be consistent. So when Godcommunicates, those thoughts will line up with the written Wordof God. They will never contradict the Bible.

The more familiar we are with the Bible, not just the letter ofit, but the spirit of it also, the easier it will be for us to"know God's voice" and determine when a thought is from God.

Every verse of the Bible is inspired by God and can thereforebe trusted. That does not mean it is a direct statement fromGod, but that even if it is telling history or a genealogy, Godmeant for it to be recorded. Thus, in that way, every verse isa thought of God, and therefore carries a message. This doesnot mean everything said in the Bible is the truth, forthe Bible even records some lies of men. But everything in theBible is truly recorded, and in that sense is the truth, andtherefore a message from God.

The second criteria is the inner witness. We will say moreabout the inner witness on another day.

Sometimes it is said that God communicates through nature. Inthe sense that God's creation gives the message of His greatpower, wisdom, and brilliance it is true. We can look at allGod has created and know He is a genius.

However, God actually communicates directly with us throughthoughts. Those thoughts can be about nature, but they arestill thoughts.

God desires for you to communicate with Him, also. You should"talk" to Him about everything. Ask Him all the questions youwant. (You won't always get an instant answer. But God doesn'tmind you being curious. And when you are ready and capable ofunderstanding the answer, God will get it to you.)

You can "talk" to God by actually talking out loud, or by aninward conversation, just in your thinking. God will hear youeither way. And He will respond. Again, it may not always be aninstant response. There could be many reasons for this. But ifyou will stay alert, you will realize when God responds and youwill know He did.

The more you cultivate a relationship with God, the more youwill understand this and enjoy it. Remember that allrelationships are nurtured and deepened by communication.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NKJ9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowshipof His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

SAY THIS: Thank you God for communicating with me. Help melearn how to know what you are saying and help me to be alertto your communication.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Open Eyes

2 KINGS 6:17 NKJ17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyesthat he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the youngman, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horsesand chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Of course, it shouldn't be necessary for us to "see" into thespirit realm to believe what God has said, such as that Hisangels would keep charge of us always to protect us.

ACTS 26:18 NKJ18 'to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light,and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receiveforgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who aresanctified by faith in Me.'

When God told Paul what his calling was, the first stepmentioned was "to open their eyes . . . that they may receive."

For us to receive all that God has provided for us, we mustalso have "our eyes opened."

Our prayer needs to be that of the Psalmist.

PSALM 119:18 NKJ18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

You Reap What You Sow

GALATIANS 6:7 NKJ7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a mansows, that he will also reap.

The Bible says it, so you can count on it.

EPHESIANS 6:8 NKJ8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive thesame from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, presseddown, shaken together, and running over will be put into yourbosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will bemeasured back to you."

The world has a saying for this, "Whatever goes around, comesaround."

If you are unkind, you can expect unkindness to come towardyou.

If you are merciful, you can expect others to be merciful toyou.

If you are generous, others will be generous with you.

You cannot expect to plant carrot seeds and harvest tomatoes.It does not work in the physical realm, neither does itwork in the spiritual realm. You will reap what you plant, andonly what you plant.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reapsparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reapbountifully.

PROVERBS 11:24-25 NKJ24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there isone who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters willalso be watered himself.

Whatever you need, or whatever you desire in your life -- givethat to someone else.

If you desire friendship, be friendly to others. If you desireforgiveness, forgive others. If you desire to be loved, showlove to others. If you desire money, give some money away.

MATTHEW 7:12 NKJ12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also tothem, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Make Friends Of Enemies

PROVERBS 25:21-22 LB21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food! If he is thirsty,give him something to drink! This will make him feel ashamed ofhimself, and God will reward you.

Why would anyone want to be an enemy of someone who treatedthem well?

Your actions should cause your enemy to reconsider being yourenemy.

When you treat your enemies well, not only do you have a goodchance of making them friends, but also God will reward you.

ROMANS 12:19-21 LB19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God,for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. [Don'ttake the law into your own hands.]20 Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirstygive him something to drink and you will be "heaping coals offire on his head." In other words, he will feel ashamed ofhimself for what he has done to you.21 Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doinggood.

The way to turn an enemy into a friend is to treat them in afriendly manner.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Faith And Patience

HEBREWS 6:12 NKJ12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those whothrough faith and patience inherit the promises.

Patience is not just putting up with things.

Patience means to continue, to persevere, to stay steady, tomaintain your course, to not grow weary in doing good and quit.

Patience is a fruit of the spirit, so to walk in Bible patienceyou must keep your spiritual life strong, by feeding on theWord and fellowshiping with God.

We receive from God by faith, but our faith has to beundergirded by patience to possess and enjoy His promises.

It's normal for there to be a time of waiting and testing whenwe believe the promises of God. But hang on to your faith andit will see you through.

JAMES 5:10-11 NIV10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face ofsuffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what theLord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion andmercy.

God's Word will come to pass in your life. Don't quitbelieving.

Hang in there!

SAY THIS: I will imitate those who through faith and patienceinherit the promises of God.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

According To Your Faith

MATTHEW 9:29 NKJ29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faithlet it be to you."

God responds to faith.

God blesses people who have faith.

Don't you appreciate people who have faith in you? Well, Godappreciates people who have faith in Him.

But His reason is not just selfish -- as ours may be. God knowsHis ways are right and bring blessing, while protecting peoplefrom harm. So, when we have faith in God, we will follow Hisinstructions, and the world will be a better place.

When everyone has faith in God, and follows His way of love,the world will be a perfect place.

Many people don't understand God because they think He shouldrespond to need, instead of responding to faith.

God doesn't do that because it doesn't work. Meeting human needwithout them having faith in God brings no lasting benefit.

MATTHEW 8:13 NKJ13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as youhave believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant washealed that same hour.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Accept God's Acceptance

God accepts you, because of what Jesus did as your substitute,and because He loves you.

EPHESIANS 1:6 NKJ6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has madeus accepted in the Beloved.

All barriers between you and God were broken down by JesusChrist. God forgave you, and offers cleansing from all the sinyou ever committed.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21 NLT18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back tohimself through what Christ did. And God has given us the taskof reconciling people to him.19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, nolonger counting people's sins against them. This is thewonderful message he has given us to tell others.20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak toyou. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleadingwith you, "Be reconciled to God!"21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offeringfor our sin, so that we could be made right with God throughChrist.

God's intention is to have a family -- a loving family. Hewants you to be a part of it.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Be A Minister

2 CORINTHIANS 3:5-6 NIV5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything forourselves, but our competence comes from God.6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--notof the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but theSpirit gives life.

A minister's job is turning people to God.

No one has to appoint you, ordain you, or give you credentialsto make you a minister.

A minister is one who serves -- serves God, and people, byturning people to God so they can receive help.

Being a minister does not require you to have a title such aspastor, bishop, or priest.

While it is true that God does call some to special places ofministry, it is a mistake to think that we all cannot, orshould not, minister.

A minister is a middle-man like a real estate agent. A personcan find out about God on their own with a Bible, just likesomeone can buy a house directly, but it is easier and fasterto have a more experienced person who knows the territory helpyou.

Monday, May 14, 2007

All The Promises Of God

2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 NCV20 The yes to all of God's promises is in Christ, and throughChrist we say yes to the glory of God.

Although the entire Bible is a message to us today, not all ofit is written directly to us.

The New Testament epistles are written directly to us who arein the church, the Body of Christ, which includes allbelievers.

We do need to rightly divide the Bible, but since all thepromises of God are yes in Christ -- they find theirfulfillment in Him -- we can take any promise of blessing inthe entire Bible and appropriate it by faith.

God has blessed us with every blessing in Christ!

EPHESIANS 1:3 NKJ3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whohas blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlyplaces in Christ,

Every promise in the Bible is not directed to us specifically.But, by faith in Jesus Christ, we can appropriate everyblessing God has to offer.

When we do receive the promised blessings of God's Word, itbrings glory to God.

All this is not automatic. You have to actively receive. Butthe main "activity" involved with receiving blessing from Godis believing. To truly believe you need evidence. That's whyyou need to read and study the Bible.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Why I Tithe

MALACHI 3:10 ICB10 Bring to the storehouse a tenth of what you gain. Then therewill be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord ofheaven's armies. "I will open the windows of heaven for you. Iwill pour out more blessings than you have room for.

Tithing is giving ten percent of your income to God.

While tithing is not a command given in the New Testament, whatwe do with our money is a test of our love and commitment tothe Lord.

In truth, all we have as believers really belongs to the Lord.Ten percent is a low figure, yet it is a starting point. Sadly,one which many Christians have never reached.

I practice tithing to God because:

* Tithing is a way of expressing my worship in a tangible way.

God is worthy of my all -- my best -- and so much more. NothingI could ever give would be sufficient, but that is no reason todo nothing. The money I give is tangible evidence that I dovalue God.

* The Lord promised blessing to those who tithe.

There are books full of testimonies from people -- even non-Christians -- who put God to the test, as He challenges us inMalachi 3:10, and found God faithful to prosper them, as Hepromised.

* Tithing is an act of faith, which pleases God.

It takes faith to give when you don't have enough. Many peopledo not tithe for this very reason; they are afraid God will notcome through and take care of them.

I have experienced miraculous provision many times. I cantestify that God is faithful, and will always, somehow, takecare of His children who trust Him.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Do You Believe In Love?

MATTHEW 5:44 NKJ44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curseyou, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those whospitefully use you and persecute you,

Most people believe in force: guns and armies.

Most people believe in money: "financial power."

Many people believe in education, that "If we just educatepeople enough we can change the world."

Hardly anyone seems to believe in the power of love to changethings. No one seems to think it would do any good to "turn theother cheek."

Jesus didn't tell us to "turn the other cheek" just so we couldget beat up more. Jesus believes in the power of love. Jesusbelieves that evil can be overcome with good.

ROMANS 12:20-21 NKJ20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he isthirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coalsof fire on his head."21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God still believes in the power of love. He believes that ifyou love enough, and for long enough, people will finally cometo their senses and respond to that love.

JOHN 13:34-35 NIV34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have lovedyou, so you must love one another.35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if youlove one another."

Jesus said the mark of His believers would be their love. Wheredid we go wrong?

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Why Are There Delays?

JAMES 1:2-4 NIV2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trialsof many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith developsperseverance.4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be matureand complete, not lacking anything.

Why are prayers not all answered instantly? Why don't we alwaysexperience the blessings promised in the Bible immediately?

If all results were instant, we could never walk in faith.Without faith, we could never please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

If you always reaped the harvest of your deeds immediately, theincentive to do right and refrain from wrongdoing would only beselfish. No faith, or love for God, would be required.

During delays we have opportunity to demonstrate whether wereally love God, and trust Him, or not.

A delay is a test. Without testing, there could be no reward.God does not test us so that we can fail, but so that we canovercome. He believes we will make it with His help.

We desire an instant manifestation of victory. God's desire is for us to press into Him and His Word and walk in faith until we see victory.

To overcome there must be opposition and struggle. God cannotalways shield us from problems without taking away from us theprivilege of overcoming.

Victory is sweet. What makes it sweet is that it is not easy.

If we really trust God, time is not a problem. Leave that withGod. His timing is perfect and He is dependable! We know Hepromised, and can never fail -- and that is enough.

SAY THIS: I will persevere in faith, and the Bible says I willend up not lacking anything.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Rejoice In The Lord

PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NIV4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

No matter how bad things are around you, you can always rejoicein the Lord.

God is good -- even when circumstances are bad.

You can look beyond the temporary problems of life and focus onthe Eternal God and His goodness. You can rejoice that Godloves you and that you have a home in Heaven.

If you only rejoice when you feel like it -- and circumstanceswarrant it -- you may never rejoice much. But you will miss alot of joy. For when you rejoice in the Lord and focus on Him,joy begins to flow out of your inner being and strengthens you.

This is God's answer for depression. Focus on God. Rejoice inHim, and receive the spiritual strength you need to carry on invictory.

HABAKKUK 3:18 NIV18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God mySavior.

"Yet I WILL." Whenever you decide to, you can rejoice. In spiteof feelings and circumstances, you can choose to rejoice.